ALBUMs
- Album Reviews
Talent is in the genes, so Lisa Marie Presley has no problems there. Talent on this album also comes in the shape of producer, guitarist T-bone Burnett, whose sound and production are immediately evident, so much so that, the first touchstone you think of is Alison Krauss/Robert Plant’s, ‘Raising Sand’. Additional collaborators included Sacha Skarbek (who’s written with Adele among others), and singer-songwriters Ed Harcourt and Richard Hawley.
Lisa Marie has a touch of baritone in her Alto-voice that gels superbly with the guitar and gives the record a distinctive sound. The songs are nicely paced. Low down gritty road tunes, ‘Over me’, ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothin' Yet’ (Not a Bachman Turner Overdrive cover), ‘Un-Break’ . Classy FM Americana, ‘So Long’, ‘Storm of Nails’ to sweet and beautiful ballads ‘Weary’, ‘Close to the Edge’ and ‘Soften the Blows’.
It took around three listens for it all to sink in, now the record is a constant on the turntable. This is certainly a big step in the right direction for this artist.
Pete
9/11
Storm & Grace is released on Universal /
- Album Reviews
Johnny Daukes new mini album and companion to the film WONDER is released next Monday, 8th October, the film of the same name is to premiere at the Raindance film festival this month as wel
Johnny is a pretty hard working guy, last year we had ‘ A False Parade’ and there was a film called
Johnny’s latest effort WONDER started as a group of songs written on consecutive days in mid 2011 and Christmas of 2011 was spent in his garden cabin with guitarist Rick Hornby (currently one half of TheTenFiveSixty), cellist Janie Price (aka Bird and ex-member of Daukes’ late 90’s band SENNA), backing vocalist and Acts of Godfrey actress Sadie Pickering and long-time Daukes collaborator, vocalist Christine Lockhart.
The resulting recordings were played to producer Gareth Jones, who mixed the record and in the weeks that followed, Johnny emerged with the script for WONDER a
The music on the album itself is delicately dark and beautiful and can easily stand on it’s own, yet when added the visuals, takes on a whole new dimension.
Pete
8/11
- Album Reviews
The new Blues? Canadian Hip-Hop DJ Kid Koala has created a blues album entirely out of samples and I don’t think they are even samples of actual songs more like, pulling together bits and pieces and gluing them together in triumphant style to make vibrant 2012 blues.
A DJ since the mid-'90s, Kis Koala has toured with Radiohead, the Beastie Boys, and Bjork; published two books; written film scores amongst a lot other things.
The music here on his fifth album drives off in different directions on all the tracks before, colliding into a raw blues rhythm that any music aficionado would enjoy. The artwork for both the album cover and website are engrossing and there are tour dates ahead as well!
So for something completely different, and original in approach, this is a thoroughly recommended record!
9/11
Pete
Fri 28th Sep L'Usine (Rez)
Sat 29th
Sun 30th La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris, France
Wed 3rd Alte Feuerwache - Enjoy Jazz festival
Thu 4th Oct Gretchen Berlin,
Fri 5th Oct
Sat 6th Oct Botanique
Sun 7th Oct Vooruit Cafe
Mon 8th Oct
Thu 11th Oct O2 Academy Islington London
Fri 12th Oct Fiddlers
Sat 13th Oct Warehouse Project
- Album Reviews
Steve Forbert is a veteran. You can actually hear that in his voice on his excellent new Long Player. ‘Over with You’.
Veteran? Well, born in 1954 with an extensive music career behind him. The gold plated ‘Hit’ with ‘Romeo’s Tune’ in 1980 and comparisons to Bob Dylan along the way; you would have to imagine that Steve Forbert has seen a lot of thing in the Music industry.
His fourteenth studio record is an absolute gem; Song craft takes centre stage with relationships to the fore, in the lyrics. The musicianship throughout the ten songs is first class. Produced by Chris Goldsmith, who has worked with Ben Harper, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Big Head Todd and the Monsters amongst others.
The band is made up of Ben Sollee on cello and bass, Jason Yates on piano and organs, Michael Jerome on drums, and Sheldon Gomberg on electric and upright bass with, a guest appearance from the aforementioned Ben Harper, as a guitarist on three songs.
A lovely record at anytime but, early in the morning, over the first cup of coffee it seems to work a treat.
Pete
9/11
1. All I Asked Of You
2. All I Need To Do
3. In Love With You
4. That'd Be Alright
5. Baby, I Know
6. Over With You
7. Don't Look Down, Pollyanna
8. Can't We Get Together
9. Metal Marie
10. Sugarcane
2012
- Album Reviews
This is an album from a band with a fire in their belly. That difficult second (well third, if you count the classic first ep) album is really something special.
Petter Ericson Stakee has the benefit of a unique vocal style, closest to Band of Horses, Ben Bridwell. Petter’s guitar work is also sparkling on this record. Terry Wolkers on stomping bass makes up this reignited duo.
For the recording of Songs of Patience the band found themselves setting up shop in an old, abandoned house near Woodstock, NY during winter but, the recording was actually a long winding road over three more years via New York, Sweden and L.A., the end result could just be their best record as a band yet.
This is an album of ‘ big songs’ until closer ‘Bonfires’, which harks back to the acoustic days of ‘The Thief & The Heartbreaker’. That's an idea, an acoustic version of the first nine songs of the new record would not go amiss before the next album. Songs of Patience is out now; you will be hooked after 2 or 3 listens!
9/11
Pete
Songs of Patience track listing:
1. Magnolia
2. Create Of Gold
3. Lay Down
4. Come on Maker
5. Wasteland
6. Ophelia On My Mind
7. I Believe In Everything
8. Money For The Weekend
9. Life Without Warning
10. Bonfires
- Album Reviews
Bill Fay’s career is well-documented if brief. Respected by his peers and those that discovered him later, like Jeff Tweedy and
His debut was ‘Bill Fay’ in 1970 which included big band jazz arrangements. Hot on its heels he releaed ‘Time of the Last Persecution’ in 1971. More than forty years later Bill’s new record, and his first of original songs in all that time, is ‘Life As People’.
Bill has said “Life As People should not be classed as a comeback” as he “never arrived in the first place”. He has, however, always remained a musician and with this album of twelve new songs he has a true gem on his hands. If Bill was a new artist you would be making comparisons with the aforementioned Mr. Tweedy or Peter Gabriel (on the track ‘Big Painter’) but Bill is the original.
It is reported that Bill was motivated to record again by producer Joshua Henry who had the task of searching through his home demos. Guitarist Matt Deighton assembled a cast of backup musicians to bring out the songs’ full potential, including Tim Weller and keyboardist Mikey Rowe. In addition, Bill was reunited on several songs with Ray Russell and drummer Alan Rushton, who played on ‘Time of the Last Persecution’, as well as Jeff Tweedy on ‘This World’.
The album does have a religious undertow but that is just one part of this majestic recording. The arrangements, instrumentation and musicianship are all first class. I think that Wilco’s cover of Fay’s ‘Be Not So Fearful’ which has been keeping the flame alive in recent times can now be replaced by ‘Life As People’.
Pete
10/11
1. There Is A Valley
2. Big Painter
3. Never Ending Happening
4. This World
5. The Healing Day
6. City of
7. Be At Peace With Yourself
8. Jesus, Etc.
9. Empires
10. Thank You Lord
11. Cosmic Concerto (Life Is People)
12. The Coast No Man Can Tell
- Album Reviews
It is nice to come across a band without any expectation or knowledge of what you are about to hear. I approached Stratus this way and was very pleasantly surprised:
Initial thoughts of this mainly instrumental album drift in the direction of 70’s Tangerine Dream, and Vangelis mixed with 80’s synth, As the Crow flies is an extremely fine album. An album that I have continually gone back to over the past couple of weeks and now with the thought that, why are this band not more well known?
We are not in Can territory or anywhere close to Eno ambient effects, but there is a tremendous band sound here, a jazz vibe and even a nod to Sigur ros come later into the album as well.
Play this record LOUD oh and a great soundtrack to the Olympics!
10/11
Pete
- Album Reviews
A grower without doubt and a nicely paced blast of Garage Rock, Pop and balladry that makes me very curious about where the influences come from. Mc5, Nuggets, 60’s pop. I just wonder has Martin been delving into his parent’s record collection and, it stuck?
Milk Maid are the brainchild of Nine Black Alps man,Martin Cohen who wrote all the songs, played most of the instruments, and apparently recorded and mixed the album in his Manchester flat.. If that’s true, it’s a fine effort that has been produced outside of a studio. He must also have very understanding neighbours!
"Dopamine." is the ‘Up’ ice breaker that kicks off the record and hits the back of the skull like a rocket as your head is filled with distorted guitars.
The album is a pace changer, prime example of which is the ballad ‘New Plans’ followed by a physch workout ‘Summertime’ and pop rock tune ‘Drag to Find’. The mellow ‘Your Neck Around Mine’ takes on a whole new shoe gaze vibe.
‘Mostly No’ follows hard on the heels of last year's debut record 'Yucca' but, carries different personal helping out. The record has a fresh feel and with this amount of material streaming forth, we can expect a complete gem arriving very soon. I get the feeling that a solid band format could just be the key, in the meantime, we await some more live dates to start with.
9/11
Pete
Milk Maid
Mostly No
Genre: -
Label: Fatcat
Release Date: 9 July 2012
- Album Reviews
This is Neneh Cherry in her prime, vocals fronting the band or layering her voice next to the saxophone, double bass or drums.
The Jazz comes from Swedish/Norwegian free improv trio The Thing a trio taking its name from one of Don Cherry’s own compositions. The band is made up of saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Ingebrigt HÃ¥ker Flaten, and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love.
Much of Neneh’s vocals can themselves be described a improvised as well particularly, on an intense version of Suicide’s Dream Baby Dream and the Band’s own ‘Sudden Movement’.
The Stooges ‘Dirt’ really drives on whist Martina Topley-Bird’s, Too Tough to Die, Don Cherry’s ‘ Golden Heart’ and Ornette Coleman’s ‘What Reason’ are delivered with special love and care. Mats Gustafsson Sax, is stunning throughout whether at the forefront or, behind the vocals.
Whist only a couple of the songs are originals, the spark of ‘Cashback’ and aforementioned; Sudden Moment’ are superb. The overall album is nothing short of original though and one that will feature in numerous Top Tens at the end of the year.
Pete
10/11
Cashback
Neneh Cherry
Dream Baby Dream
Martin Rev / Alan Vega
Too Tough to Die
David Holmes / Chloe Page / Martina Topley-Bird
Sudden Moment
Mats Gustafsson Neneh Cherry / The Thing
Accordion
D. Dumile / O. Jackson N
Golden Heart
Don Cherry
Dirt
David Alexander / Ron Asheton / Scott Asheton / James Osterberg
What Reason
Ornette Coleman
- Album Reviews
White Manna come from
A debut album of 5 songs, all around a skull crunching 7-9 minutes mark mean this is a rewarding piece of vinyl (and CD). Seemingly remaining pretty anonymous, the band have no website but do have a Bandcamp page here where you can listen to most of the tune from the record.
Opener“Acid Head” sounds exactly like the title predicts. Keep Your Lanterns Burning is a sonic epic and with your head still ringing the band launch into ‘Mirror Sky’ and there is still ‘Don’t Gun Us Down’ and ‘Sweet Jesus’ to come.
So if you like the aforementioned Wooden Shjips or their offshoot Moon Duo or
Pete
11/11
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- Album Reviews
Well, what to expect without The Black Crows? The distinctive Chris Robinson voice is still there, The Grateful Dead vibe is flourishing on an album of seven songs. Don’t fret. most break the 7 minute mark. Opener Tulsa Yesterday coming in over a glorious 11 minutes.
Any Deadhead or Black Crow at a loose end would feel at home here, the muse is vibrant on this record. Yes it could have been released in 1970’s but this just means that’s this record has a spirit about it. Chris’ voice is at its soulful best throughout.
The Allman Brother's star also shines brightly above this record. What began as an experiment without expectations, turned into a 118-date journey for Robinson (lead vocals, guitar), Neal Casal (guitar, vocals), Adam MacDougall (keys, vocals), George Sluppick (drums) and Mark Dutton (bass, vocals).
Now with a record under their belt perhaps we can get some
10/11
1.
2. Rosalee
3. Star or Stone
4. Tomorrow Blues
5. Reflections on a Broken Mirror
6. Beware, Oh Take Care
7. One Hundred Days of Rain
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- Album Reviews
Sonic overload is a speciality of A Place To Bury Strangers and with the thundering bass opening of ‘Alone’ there is little doubt what pleasure we are in for on this record.
‘You are the One’ has a more dreamy start but it’s not long before arms are aloft pumping the air as the psychedelic guitars hit the wall and bounce straight back.
There is a glorious NIN (Nine Inch Nails) like opening to ‘Crowd Control’. Bass drums, vocals and screaming guitar collide at the end. Title track ‘Worship’ has a Horrors’ like rift and is a storming song!
The record also has it’s more subtle moments as well, ‘Fear’ and’ Dissolved’ bring the pace down slightly, the latter with an indie feel whilst, ‘Why Can’t I Cry Anymore’ get us back to the industrial wasteland.
Two LPs and an EP, the catalogue grows for APTBS as the live show gathers rave reviews. A band to catch next time they are in your neighbourhood!
Pete
9/11
1. Alone
2. You Are The One
3. Mind Control
4. Worship
5. Fear
6. Dissolved
7. Why I Can't Cry Anymore
8. Revenge
9. And I'm Up
10. Slide
11. Leaving Tomorrow
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